Hospital workers collecting hundreds of bras for cancer patients
The bras are being donated to Community Wardrobe in Sleepy Hollow to support women who are clothing insecure and may be battling breast cancer.
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Phelps Hospital workers are collecting bras to help breast cancer patients have the support they need during their treatment.
Workers, like Amy Ferraro Martin, have been collecting the under garment all of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
"[They're] new, mostly new, some gently used bras, some surgical bras, some recovery bras," Ferraro Martin says.
The bras are being donated to Community Wardrobe in Sleepy Hollow to support women who are clothing insecure and may be battling breast cancer.
"It's difficult as it is, on a daily basis, to get dressed, and then adding on an illness and then depending on how poor you're feeling, managing the day-to-day, and not having the proper clothes is incredibly stressful," says Community Wardrobe co-director Elissa Smith.
Kristina Gazivoda, another employee from Phelps Hospital, says this collection is important because breast cancer patients may need specific types of bras during their treatment.
"Post surgery, especially, the breasts are tender, and they may have discomfort," Gazivoda says.
That's why workers are focusing on bras that offer different kinds of support.
"If you're post-surgery, you want a bra with great padding, especially if you're experiencing swelling or you're experiencing pain," Ferraro Martin says.
With this variety, the workers hope to reach more women in need.
"That helps us raise the health of our community members. Also, these bras are expensive. It helps community members better their outcomes of their journey," Ferraro Martin says.
So far, hundreds of bras have been donated.
Ferraro Martin says the effort isn't ending any time soon.
"We will have a space at Phelps Hospital, in our cancer institute, to continue to collect bras. We will continue doing this in whatever way the community needs us to," Ferraro Martin says.
To get in contact with Ferarro Martin about the drive, please email aferraro2@northwell.edu
